Michael was one of about ten boys from his old primary school who ended up at Ashford, as opposed to about 50 girls. It wasn’t a big school, but it wasn’t in a big town. However, the male-female split became increasingly disproportionate since the new uniform regulations were brought in; another reason why Ashford had become known as ‘the girls’ school’.
A few of the girls from junior school teased the boys they knew, telling them how pretty they looked in their culottes and white socks. Michael got an extra dose of teasing for his shoes, being Mary Jane’s rather than the marginally more boyish T-bar sandals which most of the other boys wore. Michael did spot a handful of other boys who also wore the same or similar shoes to his own, with a more pronounced heel and lacking the t-strap. And much to Michael’s surprise, far more boys than he expected were wearing tights instead of socks.